10k miles bulging battery acid leaking

Huh..??

 

Would you recommend a battery tender? I have a Harbor freight "float" charger and seemed to work, but still leery that it keeps the charge, without overcharging it. Maybe I feel this way because HF sells cheap tools, so maybe this "floater" isn't on par with others.

 

Huh..??


I thought that was your posting...opps.

 

Sulphacation is hardly an issue anymore. Ever since early 'Diehard' days, a bit of Epsom salt - Magnesium sulfate - has been added to prevent it. Almost every battery manufacturer has their own special mixture for it. You quite correct on using a tender on one, I built a $40 solar tender for the batteries in my tear drop.

 

I checked out HF "float" chargers.... Looks like this one would be the one that I would get.... Mine are made other manufacturers, but basically same as this one...

I'd buy this one...

 

Solar tender would work good in the right circumstances..

 

OK

 

As long as it is a three stage tender you are ok. A good read about batteries by the folks that made the converter/charger for my teardrop: http://www.progressivedyn.com/battery_basics.html explains the levels for charging and the 'why' without needing an engineering degree.

 

I would replace it with a Interstate battery.

 

My FJs also went through 5 sub zero winters and extreme summer Temps with no issues. Great battery.

 

This is correct. Mileage got me.

 

Had the same issue with my Battery. I had to pull it out and neutralize all of the acid. Then wash everything down. I checked the battery cells and they were full. I guess they were over filled from the factory.

 

I used to develop and test batteries in the motorcycle industry. Although not super common this is a known reason why batteries fail. It could have been from the heat or a bad plate in the batter itself, but there wasn't anything you, the truck, or Toyota could have done.

 

This thread is still going?

 

What..? If you pulled out the acid, (ie: emptied the battery).. how can it be full when you check it..?

 

No I had to pull the battery out of the truck and neutralize the acid that spilled all over the place. They must have overfilled it from the manufacturer. Batteries are to only be filled to the to of the plates inside the battery Not to the top of the filling holes.

 

Wife's Rav4 battery lasted 10 yrs. No complaints.

 

Holy shit man... it was filled right up to the top...? Of course it would spew acid all over... hope you got it all in time and it didn't wreck anything..!! Did you talk to the dealer about it..?

 

No... You know dealers. Somehow, some way, they will say it was my fault. It's not even worth the trip in.